Re: Thinking about giving it up.
[Re: barry leroy]
#7677152
09/23/22 12:20 AM
09/23/22 12:20 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,831 central arkansas
the Blak Spot
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,831
central arkansas
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Keep a 100 traps to be on the safe side. I was where you’re at about a year ago. Glad I kept my traps. I just decided to take it easy where I can enjoy it more and not worry to much about $ and how many I catch. Saving gas by road lining on the way home from work
the just shall live by faith
member FTA, ATA, EAFT 1776 - the year we told a tyrant we weren't to be under a dictator Caveat ater macula
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Re: Thinking about giving it up.
[Re: barry leroy]
#7677157
09/23/22 12:27 AM
09/23/22 12:27 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,608 Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,608
Oakland, MS
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Welcome back.
I'm not gonna convince you though. Trapping is either in you, or it's not. A trapper might be able to sit out a year or two, but to just give it up? Naw. If you want to give it up... do it... because you were never really a trapper to begin with.
~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
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Re: Thinking about giving it up.
[Re: yotetrapper30]
#7677158
09/23/22 12:29 AM
09/23/22 12:29 AM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,312 Montana
USMC47 🦫
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,312
Montana
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Welcome back.
I'm not gonna convince you though. Trapping is either in you, or it's not. A trapper might be able to sit out a year or two, but to just give it up? Naw. If you want to give it up... do it... because you were never really a trapper to begin with. I agree with Angela. Now get out and set some traps you big sissy! Hi, Barry. How’s married life?
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Re: Thinking about giving it up.
[Re: barry leroy]
#7677161
09/23/22 12:31 AM
09/23/22 12:31 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,750 Southern Virginia, 50 yr old
VaBeagler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,750
Southern Virginia, 50 yr old
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Can't say anything to change your mind. I quit trapping 4 years ago except for my farm to help my hunting. I'm slow at everything that I do. I can't skin and flesh a coon or fox for 5 bucks. I trap coyetes exclusively on my farm.
Last edited by 330-Trapper; 09/23/22 09:10 AM.
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Re: Thinking about giving it up.
[Re: barry leroy]
#7677166
09/23/22 12:38 AM
09/23/22 12:38 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,918 ohio
Ohio Wolverine
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,918
ohio
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Don't know you , any know nothing about your trapping experience. But even die hard trappers have to cut back , and a lot sooner than they wish , have to call it quits.
We have met the enemy and the enemy is us!
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Re: Thinking about giving it up.
[Re: barry leroy]
#7677170
09/23/22 12:53 AM
09/23/22 12:53 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,221 Alaska and Washington State
waggler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,221
Alaska and Washington State
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I have found that as I get older (64) that I don't have the same passion for hunting and trapping as I used to. However, what gives me more satisfaction than I probably ever got doing those things is helping out and sharing those experiences with younger or new hunters and trappers. Get involved with your association if you don't already know of guys who might like to learn what you know. I Guarantee you'll enjoy trapping again if you are sharing the experience.
"My life is better than your vacation"
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Re: Thinking about giving it up.
[Re: barry leroy]
#7677213
09/23/22 05:56 AM
09/23/22 05:56 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,723 Maine
Mac
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,723
Maine
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Really starting to think about selling most of my traps and supplies. Just not fun anymore. Crappy gas prices. Crappy fur prices. The time investment. I've kicked the idea around about selling all but 50 traps so I could still run s small line on my property and catch a few beaver to get tanned to ad to my collection. But really I'm loosing my want to keep going at it. Someone change my mind. As was said above, those traps do not eat anything and if you have to replace them it will be costly. Unless you were born with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth, you may have different seasons that it does not make sense to hit it hard and burn up time, money and energy. Just because you feel the need to give it up for a spell does not mean you are not a trapper. A lot of factors are involved. Old school trappers trapped for money. Yes there was a love for the game, and yes they loved being out in the woods. But trapping was for income or supplement of income. Today you better have a special market, niche market etc., ADC work, a good retirement or a darn good job if you want to trap. Some still do for advertisement pictures for their instructions or schools and to scratch the itch of chasing fur. Several lure and bait makers trap to have videos to show and it helps them market their products. Lot of reason to trap, and lots of reasons not too. Just because you have not been having fun, and you recognize that the financial incentive is not there, and or you are tired of spending time away from family or friends does not mean you are not a trapper. People change and evolve. Situations change. Life circumstances change. Later on down the road you may have more time, more interest, more money, and more desire to trap. During times like these one can make common sense decisions like the guy that explained he traps on the way to work and the way home. You might find you have fun experimenting with methods you have not used before, etc. etc. etc. Do not let others with a different view of what it means to be a trapper make decisions for you or make you feel bad. Best of luck Mac
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Re: Thinking about giving it up.
[Re: barry leroy]
#7677223
09/23/22 06:04 AM
09/23/22 06:04 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,785 Northern lower Michigan
Feedinggrounds
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,785
Northern lower Michigan
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I have #4 jumps and some 330s I bought new with paper route money 50 years ago. They did hang on a nail a few years between my quest for beaver. While I chased girls, and easier $ fur . But now with beaver more abundant than rats in my area, and folks paying me to trap them, I'm glad I never sold them. Also just how much $ you going to get from used traps? Traps and money will both be gone in a blink. I don''t relive my trapline memories everyday, but when I look at my 50 year old traps hanging or set, I relive those memories everytime! That means something to me.
you're only allowed so many sunrises... I aim to see every one of them!
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Re: Thinking about giving it up.
[Re: Mac]
#7677234
09/23/22 06:25 AM
09/23/22 06:25 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,684 Wisconsin
Green Bay
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,684
Wisconsin
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Really starting to think about selling most of my traps and supplies. Just not fun anymore. Crappy gas prices. Crappy fur prices. The time investment. I've kicked the idea around about selling all but 50 traps so I could still run s small line on my property and catch a few beaver to get tanned to ad to my collection. But really I'm loosing my want to keep going at it. Someone change my mind. As was said above, those traps do not eat anything and if you have to replace them it will be costly. Unless you were born with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth, you may have different seasons that it does not make sense to hit it hard and burn up time, money and energy. Just because you feel the need to give it up for a spell does not mean you are not a trapper. A lot of factors are involved. Old school trappers trapped for money. Yes there was a love for the game, and yes they loved being out in the woods. But trapping was for income or supplement of income. Today you better have a special market, niche market etc., ADC work, a good retirement or a darn good job if you want to trap. Some still do for advertisement pictures for their instructions or schools and to scratch the itch of chasing fur. Several lure and bait makers trap to have videos to show and it helps them market their products. Lot of reason to trap, and lots of reasons not too. Just because you have not been having fun, and you recognize that the financial incentive is not there, and or you are tired of spending time away from family or friends does not mean you are not a trapper. People change and evolve. Situations change. Life circumstances change. Later on down the road you may have more time, more interest, more money, and more desire to trap. During times like these one can make common sense decisions like the guy that explained he traps on the way to work and the way home. You might find you have fun experimenting with methods you have not used before, etc. etc. etc. Do not let others with a different view of what it means to be a trapper make decisions for you or make you feel bad. Best of luck Mac X2 a lot of very adult thinking here.
Author of The Lure Hunter: A Guide to Finding Fishing Lures
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Re: Thinking about giving it up.
[Re: ~ADC~]
#7677235
09/23/22 06:25 AM
09/23/22 06:25 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,868 MN
160user
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,868
MN
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Them traps ain't costing you nothing to keep but they'll cost a fortune to replace a few years down the road when you get the itch or prices rebound. This is great advice! What if years from now you have children and want to teach them to trap? It would be pretty cool for your kids to use the same traps their Dad did.
Last edited by 160user; 09/23/22 06:28 AM.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Thinking about giving it up.
[Re: barry leroy]
#7677238
09/23/22 06:38 AM
09/23/22 06:38 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,355 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,355
Firth, Nebraska
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I’m cutting my line way back and going to focus on coyotes only, for now. It’s about all I’ve done for maybe 40+ years besides fishing this is my only other outdoor passion. So just going to do a fun small line and keep it on that level. Got some finishing stuff ready because that is probably only way left to sell anything plus I do enjoy that part of it too. I’m keeping all of my other traps though. You never know when they might be important to me some time down the road. Got two boys that can divvy those up someday too. Jim
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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